The One Reminder We All Need

I came across a passage in a book when I was sixteen years old – just finishing high school and readying myself for a big city university adventure. Standing at the precipice of perceived “adulthood” I thought it a lovely piece of writing, in both form and message, but I didn’t know then how through challenges and celebrations, soul-searching and separations, it would be the best reminder I would ever have. The one that, no matter the circumstance or the emotion, would point me first in the right direction before gently nudging me forward.

In the twenty odd years since that first encounter, I have carried these words around the world with me – written out in notebooks, stuffed into backpacks, blu-tacked up on walls and committed to memory in my heart. I share them here now in the hope that they will be for you – as they have been for me – a shaft of light to shine through the moments of your life, urging always, whatever the situation and with a straightforward eloquence, to turn back to the Ultimate Source:

All praise belongs to God, who never disappoints those who hope in Him, never refuses those who ask of Him, never ignores those who quest for Him, never underpays those who act for Him, never deprives those who thank Him, never fails those who battle for Him, never allows those whose comfort is in His remembrance to be estranged, never surrenders to others those who surrender to His might, never abandons to others those who depend on Him, and never forsakes those who trust and commit themselves to Him. Those who firmly hold to His Book shall never err, and those who take refuge in His Presence shall never find disgrace.

Taken from Gifts For The Seekerby Imam Abdullah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad, originally written in the 18th century, translated by Dr. Mostafa Al-Badawi and published by Fons Vitae, 1992.

What do we do when some people feel that they don’t find solace in their dhikr, they still feel estranged somehow? and those who make dua for something, but don’t get it. To them, it feels like refusal.

Oh Amina, I really feel this comment – Thank you so much for writing it as this is true for so many people and for so many circumstances. It is such a difficult place to be (both spiritually, emotionally and sometimes even physically).

I don’t have any answers but I know, for me, learning more about the nature of making dua and the ways in which dua’s are answered were real ‘light-bulb’ moments which gave me perspectives I’d never considered before.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Call on Allah while having full conviction that He will answer, and realize that Allah does not answer the du’a that proceeds from a heedless, inattentive heart.” [Tirmidhi]

It is important to note that Allah has promised that one’s supplication will be answered, though [a] in the way Allah wishes, and not how we wish and [b] when Allah wishes, and not when we wish.

Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught us that supplications are answered in one of three ways:

[1] by actually giving the thing being asked;
[2] Or by warding off a harm that would have otherwise afflicted the person;
[3] Or as gifts awaiting the person in the next life, which is the best form of du’a being answered. [Musnad Ahmad]
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May all your duas be answered in the most phenomenal of ways! Ameen. 😘

About Mamanushka

Mamanushka is a weekly blog devoted to the pursuit of everyday happiness and the sharing of honest experience. Written by Aiysha Malik and Sumaya Teli, two old-fashioned friends made in the modern world, it intends to be both useful and beautiful.

As Jalal Al-Din Rumi advised, in this life "be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder" - so shine, row and climb along with us!

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